The Dean of Student Affairs, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Professor Musa Obalola, has disclosed the introduction of a new balloting system to streamline the allocation of bed spaces to students.
In an interview with UNILAG Sun, the Dean explained that the introduction of this new random selection balloting system is to simplify the mode of balloting, and allocation of bed spaces and prioritise fairness and accessibility for students with the greatest needs.
“We have tried to streamline our bed space allocation process. We are quite familiar with the challenges that students face when it comes to balloting. So, it’s not going to be a case of a faster and stronger network. We’ll give a window and it’s going to be a week or two for everybody to submit their applications, after which it will be subjected to random selection,” he said.
Explaining the various conditions of allocating 10,000-bed spaces to over 30,000 students who need the space, he said “What we try to do is to make sure that we allocate as much as 70% on an equal and general basis, through balloting. We also understand that students could also be affected by certain factors, which we have also tried to take care of in what we are planning to do now.
“Those with challenges, there is a quota that we have given them from the remaining 30 per cent. We give those who are physically challenged or have disabilities, and any other person that has reported one health challenge or the other, of course, through the medical centre, don’t just come to us. We also look out for scholars and sportspersons.”
He advised against paying people who claim to help students get direct to portal bed spaces. He said, “Things will be different this year, we are going to aggregate all the applications. In this case, it would truly be a balloting system.
